Quidditch Through the Ages [book review]

Whisp, Kennilworthy (J.K. Rowling). Quidditch Through the Ages. Scholastic, 2001. ISBN 0-439-29501-7. $3.99. 42 pp. B 1+ FI Reviewed by Alex Black After carefully researching the history of Quidditch, Whisp has written this readable tome. Flying broomsticks are, of course, the main component of Quidditch. European wizards and witches were flying unvarnished, coarse broomsticks as early as A.D. 962. Writing around A.D. 1100, a Scottish wizard commented about splinter-filled buttocks. Quidditch originated in Britain’s Queerditch Marsh. This early version was similar to the modern form of Quidditch, with one rather interesting exception. A small and fragile but highly agile bird called Snidget was introduced as the ultimate component of the sport. This bird was the precursor of today’s Golden Snitch. Of course, the rising popularity of Quidditch had a drawback. Muggles eventually noticed wizards on flying broomsticks playing what appeared to be aerial duels. The Wizard's Council finally issued a decree that Quidditch should not be played anywhere near any place where there is the slightest chance that a Muggle might be watching or we’ll see how well you can play whilst chained to a dungeon wall. Historical, particularly informative books tend to be sleep-inducing, but Whisp keeps the reader’s interest throughout his history of Quidditch. Rowling has increased her Harry Potter lore with Quidditch Through the Ages. It was great fun to read the imaginary history of Quidditch. This short fiction work should appeal to all Harry Potter fans.

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Whisp, Kennilworthy (J.K. Rowling). Quidditch Through the Ages. Scholastic, 2001. ISBN 0-439-29501-7. $3.99. 42 pp. B 1+ FI Reviewed by Alex Black After carefully researching the history of Quidditch, Whisp has written this readable tome. Flying broomsticks are, of course, the main component of Quidditch. European wizards and witches were flying unvarnished, coarse broomsticks as early as A.D. 962. Writing around A.D. 1100, a Scottish wizard commented about splinter-filled buttocks. Quidditch originated in Britain’s Queerditch Marsh. This early version was similar to the modern form of Quidditch, with one rather interesting exception. A small and fragile but highly agile bird called Snidget was introduced as the ultimate component of the sport. This bird was the precursor of today’s Golden Snitch. Of course, the rising popularity of Quidditch had a drawback. Muggles eventually noticed wizards on flying broomsticks playing what appeared to be aerial duels. The Wizard's Council finally issued a decree that Quidditch should not be played anywhere near any place where there is the slightest chance that a Muggle might be watching or we’ll see how well you can play whilst chained to a dungeon wall. Historical, particularly informative books tend to be sleep-inducing, but Whisp keeps the reader’s interest throughout his history of Quidditch. Rowling has increased her Harry Potter lore with Quidditch Through the Ages. It was great fun to read the imaginary history of Quidditch. This short fiction work should appeal to all Harry Potter fans.

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